Beck, Weiner duel from a distance
By KENNETH P. VOGEL | 5/24/10 10:40 PM EDT
The feud between Glenn Beck, left, and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) began when the lawmaker accused the talk-show host of misleading fans into buying overpriced gold coins.
Since Rep. Anthony Weiner last week released a report accusing conserative talk show host Glenn Beck of misleading fans into buying overpriced gold coins from a sponsor, Beck has been on a crusade against the liberal New York Democrat, accusing him of McCarthyism and conspiring with the White House to destroy him not to mention repeatedly making fun of his last name.
But to date, Beck has made no effort to confront Weiner face to face, or even satellite-feed to satellite-feed, according to Weiners office.
Instead, the two have attacked one another in absentia through dueling appearances on the television show of Becks fellow Fox News host Bill OReilly, with Weiner in a high-decibel back and forth on Monday night blasting Beck and OReilly for failing in their responsibility to their fans and saying he would be glad to debate Beck one on one.
Becks spokesman would not comment when asked about the challenge, but OReilly said he would have Beck on his show Thursday to respond, then have Weiner back Friday.
OReilly accused Weiner of pursuing a witch hunt against one company tied in with a guy you dont like. And, though Weiner said his effort is not really about Beck, so much and is instead an effort to protect consumers from being gouged, he added, Glenn Beck has a responsibility to the people who watch his show to say you know what, there are smart ways and dumb ways to buy gold. And Im advocating this is a bad way.
Weiners report last week charged that Beck and Goldline International, a California-based gold retailer that sponsors Becks radio show, colluded to use fear-mongering tactics to bilk investors. The report alleges that Goldline grossly overcharges for the gold coins that constitute the bulk of its business, uses misleading sales techniques and takes advantage of fears about President Barack Obamas stewardship of the economy which are stoked by its stable of paid conservative endorsers including Beck, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham and Fred Thompson to cheat consumers.
OReilly in a televised colloquy aired Friday on his show told Beck he should be taking Weiners report more seriously and promised to stick up for Beck.
If Weiner is working with people in Congress or in the White House to try to destroy you, that's not a joke, Beck, OReilly told Beck during a pre-taped segment on Fridays edition of "The OReilly Factor." Then I have to get involved and defend you, said OReilly, whose combative interviewing style contrasts sharply with Becks hyper-emoting showmanship.
Beck has responded to Weiners report by defending Goldline, noting that it has an A + rating from the Better Business Bureau and pointing out that he urges his fans to be cautious before investing. But mostly he has attacked Weiner, repeatedly steering his fans to a newly created website called Weinerfacts.com that features negative stories about the congressman under a cartoon image of a dancing hotdog with Weiners face superimposed on it, and calling on his listeners to submit pictures of Congressman Weiner with his nose as a weiner.
On OReillys show on Friday, though, Beck speaking to the camera, presumably to Weiner, said Please call me to testify. Please? Please. Ill be so respectful.
Beck also noted that Weiners newly hired press secretary until recently worked at Media Matters, a liberal media watchdog that has accused Beck of crossing ethical lines in shilling for sponsors including Goldline, and asserted that Weiner was targeting Goldline and Beck at the behest of the White House, which has rebuked Beck for his scathing attacks on Obama.
Weiner, in an interview with POLITICO last week, said he hadnt spoken to the White House about Goldline or Beck, and cast his report as a consumer-protection effort.
This was a report about if youre going to buy gold and make an investment, whether you should go to this place Goldline, or some other place, Weiner on Monday told OReilly, questioning the hosts motives. Youre doing exactly what Glenn is doing youre being a shill for this company, said Weiner. I understand youre defending this company that advertises on your network. I understand Glenn Beck is your business partner. I get it, but defending someone that gouges consumers, you should be ashamed of yourself.
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